Digital Dilemma

whippet

I have been a sky+ customer for the last 6 months and I have just moved house. I requested the 'moving home' installation a month ago and I was due to have the installation done on saturday.

The crux of the matter is that the install didn't happen - Engineer never showed up despite about 10 calls to sky on saturday assuring me up untill nearly half seven that he would arrive. Now the next install date is a week day about two and a half weeks away.

having just moved house I can't afford to take another day off and that is why I waited a month for a saturday installation in the first place.

I have tried in vain to express my frustration at sky putting me back to the back of the queue when they messed up .. but I may aswell be speaking to the guy from the Bank in Little Britian - 'The computer says no'

Despite numerous requests to speak with someone who can do something I have been fobbed off and told someone will call me back, which never happens.

My problem is, I want to cancel my subscription (I believe I am entitled to as Sky cannot provide the service due on the contract), but I really want their product. I have gotten used to the Sky+ box and as far as I can make out the only real alternative is NTL digital which I don't rate as much as sky.

What do I do?
Are sky just like everyone else and just don't care about existing customers?

I can't get an answer. I have also fired off emails to all the 'relevent' addresses I could find on their website but have no hope of hearing anything

Do they really care if I cancel and order NTL?

Tony

Just re read your post. How about cancelling and re signing using your new address, this may work if you have a different telephone number to your previous address. Use a reliable independent this time.

whippet

they have both my telephone numbers now !

Plus would I not have to pay for a full installation !!

I have just gotten off the phone with customer services and I am trying to escelate this as far as possible, has anyone any experience with what sky will do to ensure you don't cancel your account !! 'disturbance money' if you may want to call it that.

DMC

I'd be adamant now, go down as far as the "cancel" route that they allow. You can "say" that you are going to NTL. Mention how much you pay Sky per month, loyal customer until now etc etc.

Do you still have your box from the previous location?

NTL has no equivilant to Sky+, so I wouldnt even touch them for that.

Clanc

Why don't you do it yourself? It takes a bit of patience and obviously you need to be able to drill to mount the dish + to get the cables in. Ive set up my sky and later Sky+ in 5 different houses for myself and for a few neighbours over the past years.
I couldnt imagine having to pay for someone else to do it.
I find the trick is to take out the skybox and a portable telly to where I can see them from where I've mounted the dish. Then, after using the orientation of the neighbours dishes to gauge the general direction and picking up the signal with the sky box, I then use the signal test on the box to fine tune it.

bk

DMC wrote:

NTL has no equivilant to Sky+, so I wouldnt even touch them for that.

Just FYI, I've got a TiVo working with NTL Digital, works great, much better then Sky+.
My housemate has a Linux MythTV box working with NTL analogue with dual turners, also works great.

I think it is also possbile to get a standalone PVR to work with NTL and use the GuidePlus service for EPG.

However you are right, Sky+ is the only official EPG PVR service and it is easy to get, the other options I mention above while superior, are much more difficult to setup.

DMC

I agree bk, the setup you describe is a brilliant techy/nerd* setup, but not that friendly to the general public.

If the technology is simple to use and setup, then it will have mass appeal.






*Not that I'm calling you or your housemate nerds or owt.

whippet

I have still got the box from the last location and to be honest I wouldn't even dream of installing the dish myself !! I am willing to pay sky for that !

I managed to get an 'installations manager' on the phone who was useless - 'The computer says no' type, I got her to put me through to a customer services manager who couldn't put me through to a director but will contact them on my behalf. I have mentioned that I am ready to cancel .. but I just keep getting the response 'that is your decision'.

On top of that the installation agent in dublin accused me of lying about being contactable on the phone on saturday (which of course I was as sky called me a few times that day on that line) .. so I am taking that line with them that not only did they not show but they are blaming me.

I just want my sky, I miss prem plus, I miss interactive football, I miss one touch recording of Top gear for the series, I miss the on screen tv guide, I miss pause when the future mother in law wants to discuss the finer points of flower decorations in chuches and guest lists.

Not having sky willl cost me money in having to go to pubs to watch the footie .. let alone the number of brownie points needed to secure the 'pub visit pass' from herself !